WAIKOLOA, Hawaii - The No. 11–ranked Colorado State University Pueblo women's golf team capped off a historic fall season with a comeback victory in paradise, rallying to win the Dennis Rose Intercollegiate at Waikoloa Beach Resort on the Big Island of Hawai'i.
Trailing both Hawai'i Pacific and host Hawai'i Hilo after the opening round, the ThunderWolves delivered another poised and powerful team effort to surge ahead on the final day. When the scores were tallied, CSU Pueblo finished with a two-round total of 614 (+54), three strokes clear of both HPU and Hilo, to capture their third tournament title in four events this fall.
The victory was fueled by a trio of ThunderWolves who broke into the top 10. Sophomore Yale Lee continued her outstanding season, finishing tied for second with rounds of 71 and 76 for a total of 147 (+7). Norwegian standout Thale Victoria Estensen followed in fifth place at 152 (+12), while the Scotish Sensation Freya Constable battled through steady island winds to claim a tie for tenth at 157 (+17).
Backing the top trio was a pair of steady performances from Olivia Heard, who tied for 12th at 158 (+18), and Lisa Ekberg, who placed 21st at 161 (+21). All five Pack golfers finished inside the top 25 — a testament to the team's depth and balance throughout the week.
The Dennis Rose Intercollegiate unfolded across the Waikoloa Beach Resort's Beach and Lakes Nines, two distinctive loops that combine tropical beauty with strategic challenge. The Beach Nine offered generous landing areas and large greens framed by low-lipped bunkers and palm-lined vistas. Its signature par-five sixth hole — stretching along a ribbon of emerald fairway between black lava fields and bending toward the Pacific Ocean — provided one of the tournament's most memorable scenes.
The Lakes Nine tested precision and patience, with water hazards in play on five of the nine holes. The eighth, a striking par-three over water to a green backed by a wall of lava, demanded nerve and accuracy. The ThunderWolves embraced the challenge, turning the demanding setup into an opportunity to showcase their discipline and shot-making prowess.
By the time the final putts dropped, CSU Pueblo had once again proven why it belongs among the nation's elite. The triumph in Hawai'i adds to an already extraordinary fall campaign that included wins at the Swan Memorial in Denver and the Travis Roy Memorial in Wyoming, along with a third-place showing at the NCAA West Regional Preview in Pueblo earlier this month.
Now in her fourth season at the helm, head coach Tammy Lim has guided the ThunderWolves to unprecedented success and national recognition. Under her direction, CSU Pueblo has compiled a 38–2 overall record this fall while achieving the program's highest-ever national ranking at No. 11.
"To end our fall season with a win in Hawai'i is incredibly special," said Lim. "This group has worked hard every single week, and they've done it together. Having three players finish in the top 10 shows how strong and connected we are from top to bottom."
As the sun dipped behind the Kohala Coast and the final waves broke beyond the 18th green, the Pack celebrated not just another championship, but the perfect conclusion to one of the most successful fall seasons in program history.
The ThunderWolves will carry that momentum into the spring portion of their 2025–26 schedule, with eyes firmly set on hosting the 2026 NCAA West Regional Championship at Pueblo Country Club next May.
